ANKARA — I hope that the new calendar year will be beneficial for our country (Türkiye), every member of our nation, and all humanity.
Indeed, we believe that every new year should be welcomed with joy, hope, and excitement.
However, we are entering the year 2024 with heavy hearts due to the negative events in our region and the world, as well as the martyrs we’ve lost in recent days.
We bid farewell to the year 2023, on one hand, with pride in celebrating the 100th anniversary of our Republic, and on the other hand, with sorrow for our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes.
We are working tirelessly to ensure that our earthquake-affected families return to their safe homes as soon as possible, to heal their wounds, and to rebuild and revitalize our cities.
Of course, we maintain our hope for a more beautiful, more peaceful, and more prosperous future for all humanity.
To achieve this, we must first see that all countries and institutions take a united stance against the murder of innocent children and women in Gaza.
As a state and a nation, we are not only striving for our own security and welfare.
We wish the same standards for everyone, understanding that we cannot find peace unless a climate of peace prevails in the world and our region.
We support every effort to prepare the world for a better, fairer, more prosperous future.
We are constantly strengthening our determination and efforts as we move toward greater goals, in a period when our Republic has completed its first century and entered the new century, which we call the Turkish Century.
As long as our nation maintains its unity, solidarity, and brotherhood, no one will be able to divide us, God willing.
As our state implements the Turkey Century vision, the next phase of its 2023 goals, the rise of our star and crescent flag will always continue, God willing.
As we continue to inspire confidence in our friends and fear in our enemies with our political, economic, military, and diplomatic successes, the fog ahead will gradually dissipate.
In short, unless we compromise our independence and future, no one will be able to stop our sacred march.
Hopefully, 2024 will be a year in which we overcome the troubled period that started with the coup attempt, grew with the COVID-19 pandemic, and deepened with conflicts in our region, as we refocus on our goals.
In a period when global crises continue to increase, we will once again demonstrate our distinction and elevate the star of Turkey, which produces, employs, grows, and develops.
Yes, the 2023 targets were a start; we are now beginning our real breakthrough with the Turkey Century in 2024.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the President of Türkiye. These are excerpts from his New Year’s message.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and may not reflect the editorial policy or an official position held by TRENDS.